Siblings of Differently Abled & Intellectually Disabled – A Study on their Mental Health

Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to realize their abilities, cope with the stresses of life, and contribute to their community. Mental health exists on a complex continuum, experienced differently from one person to the next. Mental health is a basic human right. Many individual, social and structural determinants may combine to protect our mental health. Risk can manifest at all stages of life, but those that occur during early childhood, are particularly detrimental. Most people do not develop a mentally ill condition by mere exposure to a risk factor. On other end, in certain Tamil culture families, parents & siblings of differently abled, with availability of differently abled child as risk factor, develop mentally ill condition. This study by the researcher describes, qualitatively on what role attitude, plays on determining mental health. The study also focuses on identification of their strengths and difficulties using standardized tool, ‘Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire’ (Goodman) a brief behavioural questionnaire that can be completed by parents for their opinion on siblings.